Are you ready for some football!? The NFL season kicks off tonight on NBC with the defending Super Bowl champs, the Green Bay Packers, hosting the previous years’ Super Bowl champs, the New Orleans Saints. But while you’re settling in to enjoy pre-game festivities, eat hot wings, drink beer and celebrate the fact that there is even an NFL season to begin with, you’re going to be interrupted by President Barack Obama.
No, President Obama isn’t coming to your house for a beer summit or debuting a new commercial where he throws a football around with Saints quarterback Drew Brees. This evening, President Obama will be speaking live from the White House in a nationally televised address to talk about the economy and jobs. This will be coming from the same White House that said in the past that not having a plan is leadership and that the White House doesn’t create jobs.
While I jest, why is it exactly that the President of the United States is going on television on the evening the NFL kicks off its season? The answer to that is the economy is at best stagnant and at worst tipping back into recession:
Zero Jobs Added In August. “Nonfarm payroll employment was unchanged (0) in august, and the unemployment rate held at 9.1 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.” (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, “The Employment Situation – August 2011,” BLS.gov, 9/2/11)
Politico: “In a stunning development, the economy added no net jobs in August, despite forecasts predicting roughly 75,000 new jobs would be created - and the unemployment rate remained 9.1 percent.” (Mackenzie Weinger, “August Jobs Report Show No Net Gain,” Politico, 9/2/11)
CNBC: “It Was The First Time Since World War II That The Economy Had A Net Zero Jobs Created For A Month.” (“Economy Gains No Jobs In August, Rate Holds At 9.1%,” CNBC, 9/2/11)
Peter Morici, Economist At The University Of Maryland: “‘The economy is absolutely failing, and it's not likely to turn around with the present policies,’ said Peter Morici, an economist and professor at the University of Maryland.” (Lyneka Little, “U.S. Employers Add No New Jobs In August,” ABC News, 9/2/11)
The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza: “Zero Jobs Created In August. President Obama, Call Your Office.” (Chris Cillizza, Twitter Feed, 9/2/11)
The President knows how dire the economic situation is, and so do the people. Consider how people feel about the direction of the country and the economy:
Public Pessimism Is At Its Highest Level In Almost 3 Years. “Public pessimism about the direction of the country has jumped to its highest level in nearly three years, erasing the sense of hope that followed President Obama’s inauguration and pushing his approval ratings to a record low, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.” (Jon Cohen and Dan Balz, “Obama Ratings Sink To New Lows As Hope Fades,” The Washington Post, 9/6/11)
“More Than 70% Of People Surveyed Said The Economy Hasn't Yet Hit Bottom.” (Jonathan Weisman, “Voter Discontent Deepens Ahead Of Obama Jobs Plan,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/6/11)
50 Percent Of Americans Are Pessimistic About The Chances For Improvement In The Jobs Situation Over The Next Year. (ABC News/Washington Post Poll, 1001 A, MoE 3.5%, 8/29-9/1/11)
77 Percent Of Americans Think The Country Is On The Wrong Track, The Highest Percentage Since Obama Took Office. (ABC News/Washington Post Poll, 1001 A, MoE 3.5%, 8/29-9/1/11)
So to save his reelection campaign, Obama will do what he does best, read from a teleprompter and tell the proletariat what needs to be done. But seriously, will another Obama speech offer anything of real substance? If previous efforts serve as a guide, the answer is more of the same. Consider a couple recent prime-time speeches:
Obama’s 2011 State Of The Union Address Offered Few Specifics. “[T]here weren't enough specifics to really know where the President is going.” (Ezra Klein, “Lots Of Vision, But Few Policy Specifics,” The Washington Post, 1/25/11)
Obama’s April 2011 Budget Address Was An “Overtly Partisan Broadside.” “Obama’s long-anticipated speech on the deficit at George Washington University was one of the oddest rhetorical hybrids of his presidency – a serious stab at reforming entitlements cloaked in a 2012 campaign speech that was one of the most overtly partisan broadsides he’s ever delivered from a podium with a presidential seal.” (Glenn Thrush and Manu Raju, “Barack Obama Leaves GOP In No Mood To Deal,” Politico, 4/14/11)
Will Obama’s speech offer any bold leadership or courageous plan to get the economy growing again and put folks back to work? Probably not:
“The President Is Likely To Discuss Items He Has Pitched Before.” “The president is likely to discuss items he has pitched before, including an extension of payroll tax cuts, a string of free-trade deals and new infrastructure projects -- items he said Republicans and Democrats should agree on.” (David Jackson, “Obama: Jobs Are Our ‘Urgent Mission,” USA Today, 8/29/11)
“If Obama's Fall Campaign To Tackle The Jobs Crisis Sounds Familiar, That's Because It Is. This President Has Talked About Jobs More Than 200 Times Since Taking Office.” (Nina Easton, “Washington Needs To Wake Up To The Jobs Crisis,” CNN Money, 8/24/11)
Even Obama Supporters Are Prepared To Be “Underwhelmed” By The Speech. “As President Obama prepares to deliver another major speech on the economy, his supporters demand a job growth plan that's big and bold, even as they prepare to be underwhelmed.” (Devin Dwyer, “Democrats Seek ‘Boldness’ In Obama Jobs Speech,” ABC News, 8/30/11)
So what is the value of Obama’s speech? Doesn’t look like much. Don’t worry though, Obama’s umpteenth speech on the economy will be over before you know it and you can sit back, relax and thank God that the NFL is back. At least one thing is on the right track in this country.
